India factory blast kills 17

A blast in an Indian pharmaceutical factory has killed at least 17 people with chemicals burning the skin off several of the 34 injured, police said on Thursday.

The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon at a pharmaceutical unit in Andhra Pradesh. The investigators believe the blast was caused by a "gas leak which eventually hit an electrical panel". Indian Prime Minister Modi said he was "pained by the loss of lives", in a post on social media, announcing compensation to the families of those killed.